Despite the violence of Islamist groups, “the coexistence between religious confessions is experiencing tremendous progress” in some parts of the country. The government is restricting internet, and freedom of speech.

As part of a larger prison sentence delivered in 2013, Ebrahim Firoozi, 33, was sentenced to two years in exile in Sarbaz, a frontier town on the Iranian-Pakistani border known for its isolation and prevalence of Islamic militant groups.

We the citizens have a responsibility, not just the politicians, for seeing justice done and advancing the good of our society.

Thirty-three nurses participate in the NCFI leaders conference to build up the work amongst them in Europe. “Our identity in Christ is what makes the difference”, a participant says.

This year International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church is on November 10th. One out of every nine professing Christians face persecution, isolation and violence worldwide.

If we look through the history of the church, we see time and time again that Christians have stood up in the public sphere as agents of change for the good of society. We need such people now.

Police have bowed to political pressure from the assailants to make no arrests and have stopped investigating.

Around 200 evangelicals participated in a peaceful demonstration to denounce the closure of the Punto Luce church in Milan and demand “freedom of worship for all”.

As massive protests erupt, Christian university students publicly share the message of social justice they found in the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.

The Luhansk People's Republic (Ukraine) has banned all Protestant worship, and believers try to meet in small gatherings. Uzbekistan raids worship services that have not been approved by the authorities.

Video of the moment police officers enter a Protestant evangelical church near Tizi-Ouzou to close it. Church members do not stop singing, and peacefully resist later.

Police use force to eject Christians resisting in protest. The closures this week bring to 15 the number of worship buildings sealed since the government launched a campaign againt churches.

Armed herdsmen stormed the community and shot indiscriminately into houses, forcing residents to flee into bushes surrounding the village.

Turkey attacks Kurdish territories after the withdrawal of US forces. The move could lead to “one more tragedy to the Christian presence in Syria”.

The kidnappers have contacted school officials with their demands for ransom.

“I forgive you. I want the best for you, and the best would be to give your life to Christ”, a 18-year-old said to the woman who killed his brother, after she was sentenced to 10 years.

It is not clear from the video, temporarily posted on YouTube, when the two men were executed. Their identities were confirmed by a Church of Christ in Nations pastor.

China celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Republic as the violence escalates in Hong Kong. “The role of Christians is to be peacemakers”, a Hong Kong Christian leader says.

“The government has passed laws that blatantly violate religious freedom”, Swiss Christian NGO HMK says. Christian natives and foreigners have been arrested because of their faith.

In a major speech in 2016, President Xi Jinping called for the ‘sinicization of religion’. For the Chinese Communist Party, the rise of religion, especially Christianity and Islam, represents an existential threat to its political health.

The fields around the Greek the refugee camp are “oversaturated”. Pau Abad, a volunteer on the ground, shares about the “hopelessness” of the hundreds of families who continue to arrive every week and will face “a very tough winter”.

Throughout the summer, a number of attacks on graveyards, church buildings and other church properties have been reported in Europe.

The place of worship in the city of Boghni was used by two Protestant communities. Around 380 members are affected.

The US President presents a plan that includes the creation of “a coalition of businesses for the protection of religious freedom”.

The WEA has launched the project AD 2020 Global Year of the Bible “to highlight the Bible as the enduring foundation for unity, freedom, development and quality of life today and for the years to come”.